Release notes for Platform Improvements

Release notes for Platform Improvements

Data Transfer Improvements & UI Improvements

[week number 21, 2024]

Summary of Key Changes

We have implemented the improvements where as a Customer ST, Administrator and as a User, the requested data for the Managed Data Transfer storage account is now moved to the storage account in the customer-provided Shared Subscription. This means that temporary data will now be stored in customer-hosted shared subscriptions.
  1. We have introduced UI improvements in the User Portal. Now, the header buttons in each tab will remain visible even after scrolling down the page. This enhancement ensures that users can easily access tab headers at all times, improving navigation and usability.
  2. We have introduced a UI improvement on the VM Tab > Create VM page, featuring both list view and tile view options. Users can now view the hardware configuration of the VM in both list view (dropdown) and tile view formats, providing a more flexible and detailed overview.
  3. We have implemented UI improvements on the Workspace page for instances where more than 10 workspaces are available-
    1. Sort Workspaces Alphabetically: Easily organize your workspaces in alphabetical order for quicker access.
    2. List and Tab View Options: View workspaces in either list or tab view, providing greater flexibility and a more user-friendly experience.


Improvements

In addition to data transfer improvements, we've introduced the following enhancements:

  1. Justification for Data Transfer Requests: When creating a data transfer request to another workspace, users can provide a justification. This field is also optional.
  2. Justification for Data Download Requests: When creating a data download request, users can now provide a justification. This field is optional.
  3. Justification for Data Transfer Requests: When creating a data transfer request to another workspace, users can provide a justification. This field is also optional.
  4. Justification for Rejected and Withdrawal Requests: Accountable or Privileged members must provide a justification when rejecting or withdrawing the data download or data transfer requests.
  5. Sticky Headers on Each Tab: We have implemented sticky headers in the User Portal. Now, the header buttons, along with the refresh button, will remain visible even when you scroll to the bottom of the page. This improvement enhances navigation and usability by keeping essential controls accessible at all times.
  6. Create VM tab: Users can view the hardware configuration of the VM in both list view (dropdown) and tile view formats.
  7. Workspace Page Enhancements: Users can now sort more than 10 workspaces alphabetically and view them in either list or tab view.


Impact on the existing functionality

There will be no major impact on existing functionality. Users can continue to use the data download and transfer features as before. The only change is that data will now be stored in customer-hosted shared subscriptions and few UI improvements.

Additional Notes

  1. Please refer to Downloading and transferring files via data requests document for more information related to data transfer improvements.


New Feature- Upsize OS Disk

[week number 21, 2024]

Summary of Key Changes

We have introduced a new feature that allows users to self-service upgrade the OS disk type directly from the User Portal. This capability is available to members with Accountable or Privileged permissions, enabling greater flexibility and control over your virtual machines.

Improvements

  1. The OS disk size can be increased but cannot be decreased.
  2. The OS disk can be expanded up to 2 TB. For increases beyond 2 TB, please contact your local Research Support.
  3. Disk size increases are supported for both Windows and Linux VMs.

Impact on the existing functionality

  1. There will be no impact on existing functionality. An additional option will be provided in the VM card to upsize the OS disk.

Additional Notes

  1. User has to configure the disk within the VM to use the expanded volume, please refer to the steps in the below documentation, under the heading How to configure the disk to use the expanded volume?
    1. Expanding the (OS-)disk - Windows & Linux
    2. Extra data disk request & initialization - Windows & Linux
  1. Increasing the OS disk can increase the costs, please refer the the below documentation:
    1. Managed Disk Pricing

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